Match-safe.



J. s. 'A'. NICHOLSON. MATCH SAFE. APPLICATION rum) mn.a1,.1eoe.

Patented Feb. 1,1910.

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TlEl'T JOHN E. A. NICHOLSON, 01E HORNELL, NEW YORK, AS$IGNOR OF CITE-THIRD T0 WILLIAM N. HATCH, 0F HORNELL, NEW YORK.

MATCH-SAFE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 191% Application filed 'March 31, 1909. Serial No. 487,057.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that 1, JOHN S. A. NICI-IOL son, a citizen of the United States, residing at l-Iornell, in the county of Steuben and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match- Safes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in match safes, and has for its object to provide a simple device of this character which, when filled, will. deliver but one match at a time.

Another object is to provide a construction wherein the match delivery slide may be operated from either side of the safe or match receptacle.

A further object is to provide means for absolutely insuring the delivery of but one match at each operation of the slide.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved match safe secured to a wall or other support, part of the casing being broken away, Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the same, Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a modified form of the device.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a substantially rectangular box or receptacle, which comprises the side members 2, the end members 3, and the bottom 4 which is appreciably narrower than the ends 3. These members may be secured together by nails, screws, or in any other convenient manner. While the receptacle would preferably be constructed of wood, it will be understood that it may as well be formed of sheet metal.

The receptacle is provided with a spring hinged cover 5, which is held in a closed position by means of the hook and eye 6,

and may be supported upon a wall or any other convenient place by means of the plate 7 through which extend the securing screws 8. A central partition 9 divides the receptacle into two separate compartments and is provided with a vertically extending slot 10, open at the upper end and terminating some distance from the lower end of said partition. A weight 11 having grooves 11 in its sides is mounted in said slots for vertical movement and adjusts itself to the varying depth of the matches contained within the compartment of the receptacle.

Between the bottom 4 and the lower edges of the receptacle is mounted the match de livering slide 12, the side edges of which are downwardly flanged as at 13. The slide is provided upon either side of the longitudinal center of the same with the parallel match receiving slots 14 which are normally disposed over the bottom of the receptacle on either side of the partition 9, and are of such a width that they will receive but a,

single match. Extending inwardly and downwardly from the inner surface of the sides 2 and ends 3 of the receptacle, are the guides 15, the lower edges of which are adacent to and in parallelism with the slots 13. It will thus be seen. that by providing the inclined guides 15 in connection with the weight 11 which bears upon the match pile, that the respective slots 14 will always be provided with a match, and that every match within the compartment can be used before refilling becomes necessary. Centrally located and integrally formed upon the transverse edges of the slide 12 is an outwardly projecting lug or ear 16, through which extend the rods 17, the ends of which are secured in the respective ends of the easing. Upon the rods 17 on either side of the cars 16 are the coil springs 18, which are adapted to return the slide to its normal position after the delivery of a match.

By referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the bottom 4 of the receptacle is of such a width that one of the slots 11 will at all. times be disposed over the same, thereby preventing the delivery of more than one match at a time.

The operation of my improved match safe is extremely simple. The slide 12 is grasped by the user by means of the side flanges 13, and pulled outwardly until one of the slots 14 has passed beyond the edge of the restricted bottom 40f the receptacle, when the I ference with the operation of the spring 17 as might be occasioned by any accidental jarring of the receptacle. The device may be easily operated with one hand as the slide can be pulled with the index finger, the remaining fingers extending under the bottom of the space to receive the match.

From theforegoing it will be seen that I have provided a match safe which is absolutely positive in its operation, and in which all danger of the matches interfering with the proper operation of the several parts is obviated. Moreover my invention is extremely simple and inexpensive in construction, and of such proportion that it will occupy butlittle space.

It. will be noted that the weight 11 is somewhat shorter in length than the slot 14, and the guides 15 are provided with slots 15 therethrough allowing the downward movement of the weight to contact with the bottom of the receptacle, thus allowing the contact of the weight with the matches until the receptacle is emptied.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a modification of the device in which the width of the receptacle is made the same throughout its depth, in order to facilitate the movement of matches therethrough into the slots 14 at the base.

And having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. A match safe comprising a rectangular casing having a bottom of less width than the body thereof, a central partition within said casing extending the entire width thereof, a weight vertically movable upon said partition, guides located within said casing and disposed at an angle to the sides and ends thereof adjacent to its bottom, a delivery slide superimposed upon the bottom of said casing and outwardly movable from either side thereof, flanges formed on opposite edges of said slide, parallel match receiving slots in said slide normally disposed upon either side of said partition, and springs arranged within said casing and at either end of said slide adapted to return the slide to its normal position substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

it match safe comprising a rectangular casing having a bottom of less width than the body thereof, a spring hinged cover upon said casing, inclined guides arranged upon the sides of said casing adjacent to the bottom thereof, a central partition within said casing dividing the same into two separate match holding compartments, said partition having a. vertical slot formed therein open at its upper end, a weight vertically movable in said slot, a. delivery slide superimposed upon the bottom of said casing and adapted to be transversely moved outwardly from either side of said casing to remove a match from one of said compartments substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A match safe comprising a rectangular casing divided by a partition into two separate compartments, inclined guide members arranged within said. casing adjacent to the bottom thereof, a match delivering slide mounted in the bottom of said casing, horizontal parallel slots in said slide normally disposed within each of the compartments, ears formed on either end of said slide, rods extending through said ears and secured in the ends of said casing, coiled springs upon said rods on either side of said ears adapted to return said slide to its normal position substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN S. A. NICHOLSON.

\Vitnesses \VARREN TV. Oxx, WV. N. HATCH; 

